Breast Biopsy
A breast biopsy involves removing tissue or cells from the breast using a needle. We then send these samples to Pathology for examination.
A pathologist examines cells or tissue from the breast under a microscope in a test. The biopsy gives you and your doctor important information about your breast tissue which helps make a diagnosis or plan treatment. Sometimes doctors may use a biopsy to completely remove small breast abnormalities.
Perform breast biopsy using either mammography, ultrasound, or MRI for guidance.
If your doctor or radiologist suggests a breast biopsy, they will explain it to you. They will also give you a chance to ask questions. We also have some information sheets for reading.
Doctors do breast biopsies to check for abnormal breast issues, like lumps or changes found in a mammogram or ultrasound. The procedure involves removing a small sample of tissue or cells from the breast for further examination.
The results of the biopsy provide important information for making a diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment. If the biopsy indicates cancer, doctors may conduct additional tests to determine the extent and spread of the disease.
BreastScreen Victoria offers a separate breast screening service to Lake Imaging. BreastScreen provides free mammograms to eligible patients with no symptoms. Talk to your GP to find out if breast screening is right for you.
GEELONG BREAST CLINIC SERVICES
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A BREAST BIOPSY?
There is no special preparation for a breast biopsy. You can eat and drink normally on the day.
You will require a doctor’s referral and an appointment.
Please notify our booking staff if you are taking medication that thins the blood, because some of these may need to be temporariliy stopped before your biopsy. We will discuss this with your doctor. Please do not stop this medication until you are advised by us to do so.
You may be more comfortable if you wear a 2-piece outfit, because we will ask you to remove your clothing from the waist up and wear a gown.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A BREAST BIOPSY?
On the day of your biopsy our nurse will discuss the procedure with you in detail, and you will be able to ask questions.
The biopsy will be performed by a specialist doctor (radiologist) using local anaesthetic to ensure the area to be biopsied is numb. Several samples are taken and sent to pathology for examination under a microscope.
A breast biopsy usually takes between 30-60 minutes and you will be asked to wait for a few minutes afterwards for observation.
AFTER A BREAST BIOPSY
Most women can return to normal duties after a breast biopsy. We ask you to refrain from vigorous exercise or heavy lifting on the day of your biopsy.
Our radiologist will send a report to your doctor about the procedure.
Your doctor will also receive a biopsy result from the pathologist 2-4 days after the biopsy.
It is important to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these results.
PATIENT SAFETY
Breast Hookwire Localisation
What is BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION?
Breast hookwire localisation is a technique used when an abnormal area in the breast needs to be removed, but cannot be easily felt by your doctor. A fine wire, called a hookwire, is placed into the breast to guide the surgeon to the correct tissue for removal.
Before surgery, a specialist radiologist places the hookwire into the breast using either mammography, ultrasound or MRI for guidance. There is a tiny hook at the end of the wire that helps keep it in position.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
There is no special preparation for hookwire localisation.
However, there will be special preparation for the surgery that follows. Your surgeon will provide you with instructions and information about the surgery.
You may be more comfortable wearing a 2-piece outfit, because you will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up and wear a gown.
A doctor’s referral and an appointment are required for this examination.
Please also bring along your request form, any previous imaging, and your Medicare card/any concession cards to your appointment.
DURING A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
Hookwire localisation is usually performed on the day of surgery, several hours beforehand.
We will explain the procedure to you in detail, and you will be able to ask questions.
The procedure will be performed by a specialist breast radiologist who will give you local anaesthetic first to numb the area. This stings very briefly.
The technique will vary a little, depending upon whether mammography, ultrasound or MRI is used.
A fine needle guide is first placed into the area to be removed. Images are taken to check the position, next the wire is gently fed through the needle, which is then removed, leaving the wire in position. The end of the wire will be protruding from your skin.
A mammogram is finally performed to show the position of the wire for your surgeon.
Hookwire localisation takes about 30-60 minutes.
AFTER A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
The end of the wire is taped to your skin and a light dressing applied over it. The wire should now feel comfortable in your breast, with no pain.
You will then be given a copy of your images and instructed to proceed to hospital for your surgery.
The images are for your surgeon to refer to in the operating theatre.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO HOSPITAL
Your surgeon will explain this to you.
Whilst you are waiting for theatre, it is important that no pressure is applied to your dressing, to minimise possible displacement of the wire.
PATIENT SAFETY
Hookwire localisation is a simple procedure to perform, and most women will experience no problems. Problems that can occur on rare occasions are;
• movement of the hookwire after placement and before surgery is performed (which reduces the accuracy of the surgery), and
• Wire dislodgement. This occurs usually because the breast is composed of fatty tissue which provides a poor grip for the hookwire).If you are travelling to another facility for your surgery with a hookwire in position, you need to take care. Dislodgement may occasionally occur with very little movement. If dislodgement occurs, you may need to have the procedure repeated because the tip of the wire will no longer be situated in the lesion that needs to be removed.
Breast Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
What is BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)?
A Breast Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a quick and simple procedure to remove fluid or cells from a breast lesion or cyst (a lump, sore or swelling) with a fine needle similar to a blood sample needle. The sample fluid or cells are sent to a pathology laboratory to be examined by a specialist doctor (a cytologist).
An FNA is performed to help determine the nature or diagnosis of the lesion and to plan treatment if necessary. Breast FNA may also be used to aspirate a cyst using the needle draw fluid from the cyst to remove it completely or relieve discomfort if the cyst is large and tender.
The doctor may use ultrasound guidance for the FNA with. This shows an image of the inside of your breast on a screen to allow the doctor to visualise the needle is going into the lesion.
BEFORE A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)
A doctor’s referral and an appointment are required for this examination.
Please let us know when making your appointment if you are taking any medications that thin your blood, or make you bruise or bleed easily.
Please also bring along your request form, any previous imaging, and your Medicare card/any concession cards to your appointment.
DURING A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED FIND NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)
When you arrive at Lake Imaging you will be asked to remove all jewellery and clothing from the waist up and change into a loose-fitting examination gown. The procedure will be explained, and you will be asked to lie on the examination table.
The skin of your breast washed with antiseptic. A thin needle (similar to a needle used for taking a blood sample), is placed through the skin into the breast, often using ultrasound guidance, to sample the area of interest. The needle stays in the breast for a short time, while it is gently moved back and forth to enable cells to be collected.
Please allow about an hour for the procedure.
AFTER A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED FIND NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)
After your Breast FNA procedure, the biopsy site may be tender or show some bruising. You may place an ice pack over the site for no more than 20 minutes. To relieve any discomfort we suggest taking Paracetamol; otherwise, no special care is required.
• You will be able to leave the clinic immediately after the procedure
• You may drive yourself home after the procedure
• You may resume your normal activities
• You may remove the adhesive dressing the evening of the FNAIf your breast becomes red, swollen or tender in the days after your FNA, please consult your referring doctor or contact the Lake Imaging clinic to review the Breast FNA site.
The results from the FNA will be provided directly to your referring doctor by the Pathology provider that the sample is sent to. Results from the FNA are usually available within 36 hours but can take up to 5 days.Sometimes the results from the FNA may be inconclusive and require repeat or further tests.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.
PATIENT SAFETY
Breast FNA is a safe procedure, it is common to get a small bruise on the skin following an FNA and occasionally a bruise may develop in the breast tissue which causes a tender lump. This usually settles within a few days. Infection is rare following FNA.
Please let your doctor know if you develop any concerning symptoms after the FNA.
Breast Ultrasound Guided Core Biopsy
What is BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE BIOPSY?
A Breast core biopsy is a test that takes cells or tissue from the breast to be examined by a pathologist under the microscope. The biopsy gives you and your doctor important information about your breast tissue which helps make a diagnosis or plan treatment. Sometimes a biopsy may be used to completely remove small breast abnormalities.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE BIOPSY
There is no special preparation for ultrasound core biopsy. You may eat and drink normally.
Please notify our booking staff if you are taking medications that thin your blood, as these may need to be temporarily stopped before the biopsy. We will discsus this with your doctor. Please do not stop taking these medications until you are ready to do so.
You may be more comfortable wearing a 2-piece outfit because you will be asked to remove clothing from the wasit up and wear a gown.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE BIOPSY
Core biopsy removes tiny fragments (also called cores) from the breast using a special automated biopsy device and the ultrasound probe for guidance.
Core biopsy is performed by a specialist doctor, either a radiologist or breast surgeon. The procedure will be explained to you, and you will be able to ask questions.
You will be taken into the ultrasound room and positioned on the couch.
Local anaesthetic is first given to the skin and breast to make it numb. This stings very briefly. The biopsy device is then gently inserted into the breast, and you may feel some pushing or pressure. The device makes a loud click when the sample is taken. This may be repeated 3-5 times until enough material is obtained.
Sometimes a very small metallic marker is placed at the biopsy site after the biopsy. Our specialist will discsus this with you if this is needed. Insertion is painless and takes only a minute.
Pressure is applied briefly after the biopsy. Our nurse then applies a water-proof dressing and a small ice-pack.
Ultrasound-guided core biopsy usally takes about 30 minutes in total.
AFTER A BREAST ULTRASOUND GUIDED CORE BIOPSY
You will be asked to wait a few minutes after the biopsy for observation.
Most women can resume normal activities after the biopsy. We ask that you refrain from exercise and heavy lifting on the day of your biopsy.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BIOPSY DRESSING
• You may shower with the dressing on, it doesn’t matter if it gets wet
• Peel the dressing off 3 days after your biopsy
• If you develop a rash or itch from the dressing, you may remove it before 3 daysIf your breast becomes red, swollen or tender in the days after your biopsy please consult your doctor or contact the Lake Imaging clinic to review the biopsy site.
WHEN DO I GET MY RESULTS
Our specialist will send a report to your doctor about the procedure. Your doctor will also receive the biopsy results from the pathologist. This usually takes 2-4 days.It is important you make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these results.
PATIENT SAFETY
Breast core biopsy is a safe procedure. Complications are rare.
PAIN – Most women find core biopsy a comfortable procedure. Some may notice tenderness at the biopsy site which settles in a few days. Paracetamol usually soothes this.
BRUISING/BLEEDING – A small bruise at the biopsy site is common and disappears in a few days. Rarely a large bruise in the breast may form a hard tender lump. This usually doesnt require any treatment but may take a few weeks to go away.
INFECTION – This is rare after core biopsy. If your breast becomes red or swollen, please contact either our breast care nurses or ask your doctor to check the biopsy site.
If you have breast implants, there is teh potential risk of damage to the implant. This is extremely rare, and avoided by directly visualising the needle position with ultrasound. We will discsus this with you at the time of your biopsy.
Breast MRI Guided Biopsy
What is BREAST MRI GUIDED BIOPSY?
MR guided biopsy uses MRI to find the location of the abnormal tissue and guide the placement of the biopsy needle. It uses a specially designed breast imaging coil and a very specific device to sample the breast tissue.
BEFORE A BREAST MRI GUIDED BIOPSY
A doctor’s referral and an appointment are required for a breast ultrasound guided core biopsy.
There is no specific preparation for this examination.
DURING A BREAST MRI GUIDED BIOPSY
An MRI guided biopsy will require an intravenous injection of contrast (gadolinium).
Firstly, local anaesthetic will be injected into the breast to numb the region, where the needle will be inserted.
The needle is then guided to the location of the abnormality and a sample of breast tissue is then removed. A small MR compatible clip is placed at the site of the biopsy to guide possible future intervention.
AFTER A BREAST MRI GUIDED BIOPSY
After the examination you should avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours, after which you should be able to return to normal activities.
Routinely a mammogram is preformed after the biopsy to confirm the placement of the marker.
The results of your breast MRI guided biopsy will be provided directly to your referring doctor by the Pathology provider that the sample has been sent to, which can take several days.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your biopsy results.PATIENT SAFETY
There is a small risk of bleeding and collection of blood at the biopsy site. Some patients have significant discomfort, which can be readily controlled by non-prescription pain medication. There is also a minimal chance of infection.
Depending on the type of biopsy being performed or the design of the biopsy machine, a biopsy of tissue located deep within the breast carries a slight risk that the needle will pass through the chest wall, allowing air around the lung that could collapse a lung. This is extremely rare.
Breast Vacuum-Assisted Sterotactic Core Biopsy
What is BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION?
Breast hookwire localisation is a technique used when an abnormal area in the breast needs to be removed, but cannot be easily felt by your doctor. A fine wire, called a hookwire, is placed into the breast to guide the surgeon to the correct tissue for removal.
Before surgery, a specialist radiologist places the hookwire into the breast using either mammography, ultrasound or MRI for guidance. There is a tiny hook at the end of the wire that helps keep it in position.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
There is no special preparation for hookwire localisation.
However, there will be special preparation for the surgery that follows. Your surgeon will provide you with instructions and information about the surgery.
You may be more comfortable wearing a 2-piece outfit, because you will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up and wear a gown.
A doctor’s referral and an appointment are required for this examination.
Please also bring along your request form, any previous imaging, and your Medicare card/any concession cards to your appointment.
DURING A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
Hookwire localisation is usually performed on the day of surgery, several hours beforehand.
We will explain the procedure to you in detail, and you will be able to ask questions.
The procedure will be performed by a specialist breast radiologist who will give you local anaesthetic first to numb the area. This stings very briefly.
The technique will vary a little, depending upon whether mammography, ultrasound or MRI is used.
A fine needle guide is first placed into the area to be removed. Images are taken to check the position, next the wire is gently fed through the needle, which is then removed, leaving the wire in position. The end of the wire will be protruding from your skin.
A mammogram is finally performed to show the position of the wire for your surgeon.
Hookwire localisation takes about 30-60 minutes.
AFTER A BREAST HOOKWIRE LOCALISATION
The end of the wire is taped to your skin and a light dressing applied over it. The wire should now feel comfortable in your breast, with no pain.
You will then be given a copy of your images and instructed to proceed to hospital for your surgery.
The images are for your surgeon to refer to in the operating theatre.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO HOSPITAL
Your surgeon will explain this to you.
Whilst you are waiting for theatre, it is important that no pressure is applied to your dressing, to minimise possible displacement of the wire.
PATIENT SAFETY
Hookwire localisation is a simple procedure to perform, and most women will experience no problems. Problems that can occur on rare occasions are;
• movement of the hookwire after placement and before surgery is performed (which reduces the accuracy of the surgery), and
• Wire dislodgement. This occurs usually because the breast is composed of fatty tissue which provides a poor grip for the hookwire).If you are travelling to another facility for your surgery with a hookwire in position, you need to take care. Dislodgement may occasionally occur with very little movement. If dislodgement occurs, you may need to have the procedure repeated because the tip of the wire will no longer be situated in the lesion that needs to be removed.
